Commander Rehbein's Letter to DHS Secretary Napolitano
The American Legion Response to DHS
Commander Rehbein's Letter to Secretary Napolitano
To The American Legion Family
National Commander David K. Rehbein released the following open letter to Secretary of the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Janet Napolitano in response to a recent DHS
assessment prepared by the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis dated 7 April 2009.
The assessment, in part, warns that returning veterans could be recruited by rightwing extremists
groups to commit acts of violence against the USA. Commander Rehbein responded strongly to
that assessment in a letter to the secretary which was delivered on Monday, April 13. A copy of
that letter is below. Commander Rehbein also developed message points regarding this DHS
assessment and may be used when discussing this DHS assessment. A copy of those message
points is below as well.
National Commander's Letter
Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
April 13, 2009
Dear Secretary Napolitano,
On behalf of the 2.6 million-member American Legion, I am stating my concern about your April 7
report, "Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence and
Recruitment."
First, I want to assure you that The American Legion has long shared your concern about white
supremacist and anti-government groups. In 1923, when the Ku Klux Klan still yielded
unspeakable influence in this country, The American Legion passed Resolution 407. It resolved,
in part, "...we consider any individual, group of individuals or organizations, which creates, or
fosters racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their own hands the
enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment, to be un-American, a
menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law..."
The best that I can say about your recent report is that it is incomplete. The report states, without
any statistical evidence, "The possible passage of new restrictions on firearms and the return of
military veterans facing significant challenges reintegrating into their communities could lead to
the potential emergence of terrorist groups or lone wolf extremists capable of carrying out violent
attacks."
The American Legion is well aware and horrified at the pain inflicted during the Oklahoma City
bombing, but Timothy McVeigh was only one of more than 42 million veterans who have worn
this nation's uniform during wartime. To continue to use McVeigh as an example of the
stereotypical "disgruntled military veteran" is as unfair as using Osama bin Laden as the sole
example of Islam.
Your report states that "Rightwing extremists were concerned during the 1990s with the
perception that illegal immigrants were taking away American jobs through their willingness to
work at significantly lower wages." Secretary Napolitano, this is more than a perception to those
who have lost their job. Would you categorize union members as "Right Wing extremists"?
In spite of this incomplete, and, I fear, politically-biased report, The American Legion and the
Department of Homeland Security share many common and crucial interests, such as the Citizen
Corps and disaster preparedness. Since you are a graduate of New Mexico Girls State, I trust that
you are very familiar with The American Legion.
I would be happy to meet with you at a time of mutual convenience to discuss issues such as
border security and the war on terrorism. I think it is important for all of us to remember that
Americans are not the enemy. The terrorists are.
Sincerely,
David K. Rehbein
National Commander
The American Legion
Message Points You Can Use
* According to VA statistics, since The American Revolution there have been 42 million U.S.
military wartime veterans. Timothy McVeigh was just one of them. Yet he is cited in the
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report as a "Disgruntled Military Veteran."
* The American Legion comprises veterans and the staff assists veterans every day. We have
never run across veterans who sympathize with McVeigh's act.
* The DHS report is less than 9 pages. It contains the words "may," "could" or "perceived" 14
times. It does not contain any statistics, just words like "some."
* The American Legion opposes extremism in any form. Its 1923 National Resolution 407 states,
"WHEREAS, The American Legion is pledged to the orderly enforcement of our laws through
lawful agencies.....
* It further resolves "that we consider any individual, group of individuals, or organizations,
which creates, or foster racial, religious or class strife among our people, or which takes into their
own hands the enforcement of law, determination of guilt, or infliction of punishment to be
un-American, a menace to our liberties, and destructive to our fundamental law..."
* It is slanderous to suggest that "disgruntled military veterans" pose a serious terrorism risk to
the United States. This is the type of stereotype that Vietnam veterans unfairly faced a few
decades ago.
* This report makes no mention of Islamic radicals, who have been responsible for many
terrorist attacks over the years. One could certainly categorize radical Islam as "right wing." Are
we to believe "disgruntled military veterans" and those concerned with illegal immigration
represent bigger threats?
* If not for veterans, there would be no Department of Homeland Security or nation to protect.
This is a pure "values" issue that reveals how someone in our government views those men and
women who demonstrate daily their willingness to give all they have in defense of our nation and
our heritage. If America was a land of titles and classes, these men and women would be our
"nobility."